Henry gotjrdier



(No Model.)

H. GOURDIER.

HORSESHOE. No. 273,677. Patented Mar.6, 1883.

Elma-an STATES BATENT @rrrce.

HENRY GOURDIER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HORSESHOE.

BPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,677, dated. March 6, 1883. Application filed September 2, 1881. Renewed January 27, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY GOURDIER, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Horseshoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention has relation to improvements in horseshoes, and has for its object the production of a shoe which may be employed to produce results of a highly beneficial character in the treatment of horses hoofs, especially in cases where the foot of the horse has a tendency to contract at the heel.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a shoe embodying the elements of the invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section of same, with the rubber pad in position. Fig. 3 is a top view of same. Fig. 4 is a view showing the shoe applied to a horses hoof; and Fig.5 is an enlarged detached view, illustrating the preferred form of wedge.

A denotes the principal part of the shoe, and B a bar or band connecting its heel ends. The bar B differs from other bars which have been used for connecting the endsot' horseshoes, in that its upper surface is below the upper plane of the shoe, and its lower surface above the lower plane thereof, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and at. Ata point about where the bar is connected with the shoe the projections or clips D D are provided, being of appropriate size and form and separated from each other, so as to hold the wedge H in place, as shown with sufficient accuracy in Fig. 5.

E is a cushion, formed by preference of rubber or other elastic material of suitable character, which is adapted to fit between the projections or clips D, a ridge, 6, on the lower side of the cushion being formed to occupy the groove 0 in the bar B, the purpose of the ridge and groove being to prevent the cushion t'rom slipping away from the shoe. When in use the frog of the horses foot will rest upon the cushion.

Fig. 4 illustrates the application of the shoe to a horses hoof, and the use of the wedge H, the shape of the wedge being shown more clearly in Fig. 5; but the shape may be varied, if desired, to meet the special requirements of any case.

The shoe will be used either with or without the clips and wedges. In manyinstances it will be made with the sunken bar or band B, and in other respects like an ordinary shoe, the cushion being inserted and the shoe nailed in place in the customary way; and, it pre ferred, the band B may be omitted and the clips and wedges used without the cushion. Vhen the clips are used, the hoof is cut at the heel to permit of the introduction of the projections or clips D, the cushion is inserted in place,and, the shoe having been nailed on, the wedge is utilized to produce a pressure of the sides of the heel away from the clips to such an extent as may be necessary, according to circumstances. The wedge will be of a size adapted to the effectuation of such a separation as may be desired, and the cushion will .be of such thickness and density as to properly support the frog. The parts hereinbefore described will be used at will, as the judgment of the operator may indicate.

The barBisto support thatportion ot'the frog ot' th'efootknown as theheel,in lieu of cutting it off, as is now the usual method of treating it. By not removing the frog, and by employing the shoe having the bar B, the horse has what may be termed a heel-pressure. The foot is supported in rearas well as at thefront. If the frog is large, the cushion E is not employed but ifit is too small to reach the bar B the said cushion is made use of. The bar B is in contact with the foot only at the heel thereof.

The shoe, including the bar and clips, will preferably be cast in one piece.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A horseshoe having its heel ends connected by the band B, the upper surface ot' the band being below the upper plane of the shoe and supplied with a groove or indentation, 0,111 combination with the cushion E, adapted to be received by the band B, substautially as set forth.

2. A horseshoe provided with clips D at each of its sides, in combination with the wedges H, whereby a contracted hoof may be spread IOC I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of August, 1881.

HENRY GOURDIER. 

